Chargers safety Derwin James finally working with starters

Chargers safety Derwin James has been the hot commodity after being the team’s first round selection in the 2018 NFL draft, and he is finally getting in reps with the first team after being sidelined with a hamstring injury, according to ESPN’s Eric D. Williams.

James appears to be accumulating nicely in the secondary, rotating with strong safety Jahleel Addae in an effort to give both players additional reps at each position. It would be a major surprise if James wasn’t operating as the starting FS or SS by Week 1.

Earlier this offseason, Addae stated that he is willing to be versatile in the secondary if they needed him to play both spots after acquiring the Florida State product.

“I’m like Batman and Robin. I can do whatever you want me to do. I played free safety my first four years here. Last year was my first season solely in the box. If they want me at the free, I can do that, if they want me in the box, I can do that, too. (Free safety) is just more of being a ball-hawk back there and making up-field tackles, being the eraser.

It’s more (of an) impact on your tackling because you’re coming from a distance, running the alley (and) hitting someone across the middle, but I’ve done it in my career. I did it in college, and I’m as comfortable at free safety as I am at strong safety,” Addae said, per the Chargers official website.

Los Angeles will have a huge decision to make when it comes to finalizing the depth chart. L.A. will have Rayshawn Jenkins, Adrian Phillips and Jaylen Watkins in contention of the starting spots. This will be something worth monitoring as preseason starts Saturday against the Cardinals.